Apparatus for producing articles by electrolytic deposition



Aug. 3 1926.

G. ROSENQVIST APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ARTICLES BY ELECTROLYTIC DEPOSITION Filed Feb. 24, 1925 Mefo/ Tube Form/r7 Candi/67 avwemto z 66/0/70!" Rose/7 7 V1197 8mm; (790 41) Mefa/ Mold Farm/n Kai/700 5 nate the-same parts in the Patented Aug. 3, 192%.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for producing metallic articles by means of electrolytic deposition, one of the objects of the invention being to provide an apparatus of this character in which the solution comes in contact only with the interior of the metal mold, whereby the necessity for covering the exterior of the mold with insulating material is avoided.

A. further object of the invention is to provide an apparatusoit the character set forth, in which the scrap metal anode can easily be washed 0d and in which the solution is always filtered and clear when it comes to the metal mold.

A. further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus in which the interior surface of the deposited metal is ground, polished and hardened during the depositing process.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features of construction and. combination of parts which will be more fully described hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings accompanying and forming partof this specification,

Fig. 1 is a vertical central section through an apparatus embodying the features of the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modified form of apparatus; and

Fig. 3 is an end view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2. i

The same characters of reference desigdifierent figures of the drawings.

In apparatus of this. general character heretofore used, it hasbeen the practice to 'immerse the-entire moldina tub containing the solution forming the electrolyte. Under suchprocedure, however, the exterior of the ,mold must be completely covered with insulating material in order to prevent deposition thereon as well as on the insideof the mold. Moreover, the contacts and connect- 'ing wires always become coated withthe .de- -posit,since it is extremely difficult to insulate them. The objectof the present invention is to provide an apparatus in which the necessity for insulating either the exteriorsurface of the metalmold or the contacts is avoided by reason of the fact that Application filed February 24, 1925. Serial No. 11,000.

-'may be attached apipe or hose,

cont ct the ethe solution never comes in with.

Referring first to Fig. 1 of the drawings, 1 designates a tub containing the electrolytic solution 2, said tub being preferably formed at its top to provide a shoulder 3 for supporting a platform 4.. Mounted on the platform is a metal mold 5, which may be of cylindrical, octagonal, hexagonal or any other desired form in cross section, and is preferably made of a plurality of sections secured together. Within the mold, in concentric relation therewith, is a so-called basket 6 formed of perforated lead or other acid-resisting porous material for the reception of scrap copper 7 forming the anode. The mold, 5 is provided at the exterior thereof with a terminal 8 for connection by means of a wire 9 with one terminal of a suitable source of electric current. Within the basket 6 is supported on the platform d a tubular member 10 of conducting metal, the upper end of which extends above the top of the basket and has attached thereto in any suitable manner a wire 11 for connection with the other terminal of the source of rubber or other material communicateswith the delivery end of the pump and is bent at its upper end so asto deliver the solution upon the scrap copper within the basket 6. The bottom of the basket is provided with an outlet nipple 16 adapted to form-a connection for a rubber hose :17, which hose extendsto the bot'tom'of the tub 1 and is provided in its lower end with a plug having 'a at the bottom; of the tub. The metal mold 5 is provided near its upper end with an overflow opening having a nipple 1 9 to which for returning" the'surplus solution to the tubl." M

-The operation'of the device so far described is as 'followsz r The basket 6 being started and the operation thereof is confilledwith scrap cop.- per and the current turned on, the pump is comparatively small delivery opening therein for promoting circulation-of the'solution not shown,

tinued until the height of the solution in the basket reaches the level indicated by the line a, the solution penetrating through the basket until it reaches the level indicated by the line b in the metal mold. The operation of the pump is regulated so as to maintain the solution at these levels. The solution acts on the scrap copper in the basket and the deposit is made on the inner surface of the metal mold 5. After the deposition is completed, the sections of the mold may be disconnected one from the other and removed, and if the molded article is in a single piece the rubber pipe 15 is swung aside so as to permit the article to be lifted from the platform without disturbing the basket 5 and the central contact member 10. On the other hand, if the article is made in a number of pieces corresponding with the sections ofthe mold, each piece is removed with the section of the mold on which it was deposited, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

When it is desired to wash the scrap metal in the basket. the rubber hose 17 is lifted out of the tub 1 so that it will drain outside thereof. sprayed over the scrap copper in the basket and allowed to drain ofi through the rubber hose. 1

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, I have illustrated therein a, mold which is capable of rotation. To this end a pair of standards or brackets 21 and 22 are supported on a ase 23. one at each end thereof, said standards being each provided at its upper end with a bearing for receiving a rod or shaft 24. preferably of stainless steel, the rod being intended to be maintained against rotation in the standards. Upon that portion of the rod 24 which extends between the brackets 21 and 22 is supported a basket 6, of perforated lead or other porous material. the rod being provided with a. pair of collars or shoulders 25 for maintaining the basket against axial movement, said basket being adapted to contain scrap copper 7'. The collar 25 at the left of Fig. 2 is shown threaded on the rod so as-to permit removal of the basket. Outside of the ends of the basket a pair of disks 26 and 26 of ebonite or other suitable insulating material are mounted on the rod 24, said disks forming heads or ends of a drum or mold, the body 5* of which is made of metal and is secured to the disks by means of screws 27 or in any other suitable manner. The body of the mold, like that of Fig. 1, may be either in a single piece or made up of a plurality of sections each having a pair of longitudinal flanges 5 extending out from its side edges, the flanges of each section being bolted to the flanges of contiguous sections. as shown in Fig. 3. The rum may also be cylindrical, octagonal or Fresh water may then ha any other desired form in cross section. When it is desired to use the mold for forming a plurality of separate articles, the flanges of the sections are separated from each other by alayer of insulating material 28, while if it is desired to form a single hollow article the insulating layers may be omitted. For rotating the mold, a pulley 29 is mounted on the rod and is secured to the disk 26*, a spacing washer 30 being interposed between the pulley and disk. A second pulley 31 is mounted for rotation on the rod 24 in juxtaposition to the pulley 29. Rotary mo ion may thus be imparted to the mold by means of a belt connection from any suitable source of ower, while, by shifting the belt from the ast pulley 29 to the loose pulley 31, the rotation of the mold may be discontinued at any time.

For establishing electrical connection between the mold and a source of current, a ring contact member 32 is carried by an insulating disk 33 which may be formed integral with the disk 26 or secured thereto in any suitable manner. electrically connected with the mold 5 by a short wire 34 which passes through an opening in the disk 26. A contact brush 35 carried by a bracket 36 mounted on the standard 21, is held in contact with the ring 32 The ring 32 is and is connected by a wire 37 with one pole of the source L of current,- not shown, the other pole being electrically connected in any suitable manner with the rod 24, as for instance by a wire-41.

For supplying the solution to the scrap copper in the basket, :1 tube 39 passes through a bore in one end of the rod 24 and communicates with the interior of the basket. said tube being adapted to communicate at its outer end with the delirery end of a pump similar to that shown in Fig. 1 for pumping the solution from a tub, while a tube 40 communicates. through a bore in the opposite end of the rod. with the space between the basket and the disk 26', for returning the surplus solution to the tub.

- In the form of the apparatus shown in Figs. 2 and 3, I have provided means for grinding and polishing the interior surface of the deposited metal. This means comprises a mass of granular material 41, which fromthe apparatus. To that end, I have illustrated 1n Figs. 2- and 3 the standard 22 as hingedly secured to the base and the hearing at the upper end of this standard is split, so that on releasing the top part of the bearing the standard may be swung toward the right of Fig. 2, free of the rod 24.

Thereupon, after the screws 27 have been.

removed, the disk 26, together with the pulleys 30 and 31, may be removed from the rod 24, thus affording access to the end of the deposited article, which can then be readily removed. It will be observed that the standard 21 is made of substantial thickness so as to support the weight of the apparatus when the standard 22 has been swung out of supporting position.

For afiording access to the interior of the basket to permit the same to be filled, a portion 42 thereof is made removable, and is provided with a pair of latches 43 for retaining it in position when closed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. An apparatus of the character described, comprising, in combination a tub adapted to. contain an electrolytic solution, a metal mold disposed outside of said tub, a basket disposed within said metal mold and adapted to contain scrap copper, means for causing a circulation of the solution from said tub through said basket, and means for electrically connecting said scrap copper and mold with a source of current.

2. An apparatus of the character described, comprising, in combination, a tub adapted to. contain an electrolytic solution, a metal mold disposed outside of said tub, a basket disposed within said metal mold and adapted to contain scrap copper, a pump for transferring the solution from said tub to the interior of said basket, means for returning the solution to said tub, and means for electrically connecting said scrap copper and mold with a source of current.

3. An apparatus of the character described, comprising, in combination, a tub adapted to contain an electrolytic solution, a metal mold disposed outside of said tub,

said mold being formed of a plurality of sections detachably connected together, a basket disposed within said metal mold and adapted to contain scrap copper, means for causing a circulation of the solution from said tub through said basket, and means for electrically connecting said scrap copper and mold with a source of current.

4:. An apparatus of the character described, comprising in combination, a tub adapted to contain an electrolytic solution, a metal mold disposed outside of said tub, said mold being formed of a plurality of sections detachably connected together, a basket disposed within said metal mold and adapted to contain scrap copper, a pump for transferring the solution from said tub to the interior of said basket, means for returning the solution to said tub, and means for electrically connecting said scrap copper and mold with a source of current.

5. An apparatus of the character described, comprising, in combination, a stationary basket, a metal mold mounted for rotation around said,basket, means for supplying an electrolytic solution to the interior of the basket, means for transmitting motion to said mold, and means for electrically con necting said mold and basket with a source of current.

6. An apparatus of the character described, comprising, in combination, a stationary basket, a metal mold mounted for rotation around said basket, means for supplying an electrolytic solution to the interior of the basket, means for transmitting motion to said mold, means for electrically connecting said mold and basket with a source of current, and means between the basket and mold and displaceable on the rotation of the latter thereby to abrade the surface of the metal deposited on the mold.

' In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

GUNNAR ROSENQVIST. 

